Grain-car door.



c. F. RAKOW GRAIN CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ,ea 3mm 0.F.Rakmm COLUMBIA PLANOGHAPH co.,wAsHINflr0N. D. c.

C. F. RAKOW.

GRAIN CAR DOUR- APPLICATION FILED res. 12. 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

C'lERakaw.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0" WASHINOTON; D. C.

C. F. RAKOW.

GRAIN CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION: FILED ms. 12, 1914.

1,149,080. Patented Aug. 3,1915.

4 SHEET$SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

C. F. RAKOWQ GRAIN CAR DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1314.

1,1 49,080, Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH :0" WASHINGTON D c get CARL F. RAKOW, OF WHEATLAND, 1\l'OIR.'.llI:I DAKOTA.

' GRAIN-CAR noon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915'.

Application filed February 12, 1914. Serial No. 818,203.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL F. RAKOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wheatland, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in" Grain- Car Doors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable. others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in doors for railway cars particularly grain cars.

An important object of my invention is to provide a door consisting of two sections that may be moved into open or closed position independently ofeach other.

Another important object of my inven-, tion is to provide locking means for the door sections whereby the doors are firmly held in place, are prevented accidental derangement and may be expeditiously opened and closed. r

Another important object of my inven' tion is to provide novel means for supporting the doors when in open position, said doors being so supported as totake uplittle or no room thus enabling a greatreceiving capacity for the car.

Another important object of my invention is to providea novel form of means for hanging the doors consisting of means whereby one of said doors may be swung and suspended Iinteriorly of the car from the roof thereoffand be slidably moved, into an out of the way position and then sus-' pended in parallel relation to and near the roof of the car interiorly thereof.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a car door of the character described which is simple as to construction, reliable and efficient in operation, strong and durable, and cheap to manufacture and install. a

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in, the claim which is appended hereto and forms apart of this application.

l/Vith reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice,

and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate correspondlng parts: Figure l is a front elevation of my improved door showing it in assembled closed position, Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of my improved door showing the same in locked position and a portion of the car in section, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the car showmg the doors in unlocked and supported position 'adjacentthe roof of the car, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through the car adjacent to the roof thereof showing the suspension or hanging means in fragmentary plan andthe door in dotted lines in'jopen position,'Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on'horizontal line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing in detail a portion of the door locking means, Fig. 6'is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken on vertical line 6-6 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 isa sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 2,*Fig. 8 is a horizontal frag-' mentary sectional View showing the laterally slidable sealing plates to seal the crack of the door sections, and Fig. 9 is a detail perspective View of the wrench employed for operat ing thelockingmechanism'for the doors.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates as an entlrety the. door frame of a car in which is mounted my improved doorconsisting of a lower rectangular door section 2 and an upper larger rectangular door section 3'.

The sections 2 and 8 are designed to co:

operate to close a portion of the opening in the door frame after the usual manner and are arranged to be opened and closed independently of each other as will be later more fully described.

As a means for locking the door sections 2 and 3 within closed position in the door frame 1, I provide locking mechanism for each section which is identical as to construction. The locking mechanism consists of vertical slidable bars 4 and 5. The bars 4 and 5 are slidably mounted upon the outside faoes of the sections 2 and 3 and each bar has operating in conjunction therewith a pair of locking plates 6 and 7 Each of these locking plates is secured by suitable fastening means 8 intermediate its ends transversely of'the bars 4; and 5 adjacent, the ends thereof so as to provide lockingv tongues projecting with relation to the outer longitudinal edges of the bars 4: and 5 and arranged to fit within a recess 10 formed in the door frame 1. The plates 6 and Tare offset as at 11 and extend inwardly from the bars 4: and 5 toward the center ofithe door and in engagement with the outer face of the door sections. The plates in being offset fit about the inner longitudinal edges of the bars and 5 as clearly shown in Fig. '6 in the drawings. The inwardly extending portions of theplates 6 ahd 7 are designated 12 and slidable through angular guide plates 13 that are secured upon the outerf ace ofjthe door 'seetio'ns 2 and 3 in pairs. The guide plates 13 are arrangedlongitudinally of the door seasons" with their inne iongaudinn edg'esspacea from each other. The portions 12 of the plates '6 and I are "corrugated upon outer faeesvas at 13' and as articularlyshown in 6 iii the drawings. The corrugated portions are a longitudinally slotted, with relation to each of -the plates 6and 7. Screw threaded bolts 14 are inserted through the space ceiiiprehended between the inner edges of the plates 13am the Islets in the corrugated portions 13 of the plates 6, and 7 and preferably the near "seetions 1 and 2. The outer endofthebelt is enlarged to pr vide a. head 15, st as a .preveht'the it,- moval of a lockingleveir 16 which is turned upon 'eaeh bolt. Anelongated c'drrugat'ed plate 17 is. -mouhte d upon each bolt 1&1 be,- tw'eenfth'e lecking lever lfi and eerrugated faces 13 "or the plates and 7. It willb readily seen that vvhenfthe learnt lever-51s is "turned to bring the segregate? plate .17 into eooper'atin'g hgagemefi vyith the herrugated surface '13 6f the lates and 7, the; lo'ckingplates will be held in looked 'position. Suitable bra'ero ds or bars '18, are arranged upon the faces of'the 'd'oor sections to provide strength for the door struetiires. The sliding bar's trend 5 as will I be; readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are held against 'aecidental derange. mentbylmeans'of the, guide plates 13 for the locking plates 6 and 7. i I y v As a means for sliding the bars 4 and'5 insuch a way that the locking tongues 9 move into therecesses10 in the sides 'ofthe door frame 1, I provide in connection with each door section an operating shaft 19 that 1 is journaled 'in ia bearing member2O which is 'a'rranged centrally of the ends of each (1961 s ction. The Op rating shaft 19 is provided screw threads '21 each end, said screw threads being arranged in'opposite directions. Carried eentrally of the end s of each of the bars '{1 andf5 is proximately .U -shapedoperating rod receiving member 22 that issecured at its free'end bysuitablefasteni-ng means 23' and provided centrally of its ends with an approximately cylindrical enlarged and "internally S creW threaded portion24. The portions 24 of the members 22 receive the screw threaded ends 21 of the operating shaft 19. Fixed upon the shaft 19-upon opposite sides of the bearing member 20 are angular faced wrench fitting portions 25 and 26 or if desired the shaft 19 may be formed with angular fac'es arranged to coeperate with ,a'

wrench or some othersuitable tool. Carried wrench 2 7 is provided with a long handle portion-and as will be clearly seen is adaptedto cooperate with'the wrench fitting p'ortiolis andao upon the shaft to bring ahoi'it the rotation of the shaft. It will'b'e readily seen "tha't wh'en the wrench 27 is positioned as described and Operated to rotate the shaft 19 that the locking tongues are moved into and'out of engagement with the recesses 10 in the sides of the door frame 1 according to the way in which the shaft is rotated. a 7

As a means for insuring the perfect sealof the door with the frame and also bracing the door sections have provided upon'e'ach side of "the door frame a pair of plates 28 and 29. The length of the plates 28 "and E29 "is'equal to the height of the sectioiis sane-3. The pla tes 28 overlap at their lower edges the upper edges of the plates 29. The plates 29 are provided adjacent theirends with transverse slots '30 through which screw threaded bolts "or pins 31 are inserted for the purpose of securing the plates to the door frame. Nuts '32 having ha'ndle portions 33 thereon areturned upon the screw threaded bolts or pins 31 and serve' to clamp the plates 28 and '29 in operativeor out of the way position. The plates 2'8and 29 in 'beingarranged upon the inner edges of the door frame serve to seal the door with respect to the frame and brace the door in a reliable manner.

It will'be readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings'that the door sections may be locked in a *reli'able'and expeditious manner and in "such a way that accidental derangement thereof is positively prevented. The

unloclnng of the doors is also provided in an expeditious manner. A pair of hinged bars 34 and 35 is secured in any suitable manner at'the ends of the bars to the lower door section 2 adjacent the end thereof. T e fba'rs'34fand 35 are hinged as at 36 interme'diate'their ends and are secured at their upper. ends to thecrank portions of a crank rod 37. The "crank -rod '37 is carried by suitable brackets upon the horizontal piece of the doorfram e "1 atth'e upper part of the frame and "is provided with suitable crank portions to which are "secured the upper ends of the bars 34' and '35; The bars 34: and 35' upper door section 3 and soas to prevent interfering of the bars 34 and 35 with the locking mechanism for the-uppersection.

The crank rod 37 provides for the proper positioning of the lower door section 2 so that the locking thereof may be readily had. The arrangement also permits the door section 2 to be swung inwardly with relation to the car and disposed adjacent the roof of the car after a manner which will be later described.

The upper do or section 3 is arrangedto slide longitudinally of the car to and away from the door frame 1. Secured at their lower ends to the inner face of the upper section 3 are supporting bars 38 and 39 which are arranged vertically with relation to the car and hinged as at 40 intermediate their ends butadjacent to the upper ends thereof. A second hinge as at 41 is provided for the bars 38 and 39 at a point between the hinges 40 and upper ends of the bars. This second hinge arrangement is for a purpose to be later described. The upper ends of the bars 38 and 39 extend through longitudinal slots formed in the under face of a longitudinal track member, into said track member and have journaled thereon rollers 42. The track member is designated 43, is rectangular in cross section and is secured to the roof of the car along the upper edge of the door frame. A lateral flange 44 is carried by the member 43 and has fastening means inserted therethrough for the purpose of securing the member 43 after the manner described.

The member 43 is of suflicient length to permit the door to be moved free of the door frame upon one side thereof. It will be readily seen that the upper door section 3 through the medium of the hinges 40 and 41 in the bars 38 and 39 may be swung outwardly with relation to the interior of the car into a position whereby it may be locked in the door frame or swung inwardly so that it may be slidably moved into and out of the way position relative to the door frame. The hinges 40 and 41 provide for the hanging of the upper section 3 relative to the roof of the car as will be later more fully described.

Secured interiorly of the car adjacent to the roof thereof are transversely arranged rods arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the door. frame, the rods of one pair being designated 45 and the rods of the other pair being 46. Slidable upon and secured to the rods 45 and 46 are supporting rods 47 and 48 that are secured at right angles to and upon the rods 45 and 46 respectively and arranged so as to be moved upon the rods 45 and 46 in such a manner that the door sections maybe swung intothe car and adja-- cent to the roof thereof. Inthe rods 45. and

46 at suitable points thereon are formed U shaped loops .49 designed to receive the rods 47- and 48.,to hold them in place when the desired adjustment is had.

RodsfiO, two in number preferably are,

slidable upon and secured to the rods 45 and 46 that are opposed to one another.

With particular reference to Fig. 4, wherein I have shown a fragmentary plan view of;

rods 45 and 46 are shown. Two pairs of the rods 50 are employed and these rods and the missing rod 45 are the only elements not shown in this view. The door sections 2 and 3 are supported upon the rods 50 and 48 respectively after the door has been pushed inwardly and the larger section 3 moved over to one side of the door frame. The means described enables the supporting of the doors on both sides of the car as will be clearly seen. The upper door section 3 is caused to slide out of the way with relation to the door frame and is then swung upwardly and positioned after the manner described.

The arrangement for supporting the doors described eliminates the taking up of too much space at one point with relation to the car.

It will be readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that I have provided a reliable and efiicient car door which is capable of withstanding rough usage and may be readily moved into an out of the way position in such a way that the receiving capacity of the car isin no way lessened.

It is obvious that when the grain is to be unloaded the lower door section is first moved outwardly from the car to permit the grain to flow therefrom and after this action the upper door is moved out of the way at which time the lower door is swung upwardly and supported after the manner de scribed.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is The combination with a car of a grain door comprising separate upper and lower sections, one mounted to swing from a vertical position in the door WaV to ahor'isiontal position adjacentto the roof and the other mounted to do the same and also move to "a position at one Side of the door way and .thiee-or more parallel trans'verse'r'ods, ar-

ranged adjacent to the roof, one adjacent-to each side of the door Way and the other morer'emote so that the respective door sections be swung up between two adjacent Tools and cross rods en aging respectively the -tW0 parallel rods adjacent the door and one of them and the more remote copies of'this patent maybe obt'ained .:for-fl ve items each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

neath the respective door section to support'fls the same or permit it to dr0p.

In testimonyWhei-eof I-afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CARL RAKOW.

WVitnesses: I I

"CHAS. J. OI-IUNA5 CHAS. M. BIRCKHEAD.

Washington,- 111 025 p Y 

